Middle South

August, 2009
Regional Report

Shows & Events

"Gold in Your Garden" Symposium
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia will host the symposium, "Gold in Your Garden," showcasing Georgia's Gold Medal Plant Program, on Thursday, September 17, from 9 am to 2:30 pm. Featured speakers include Dr. Allan Armitage, Nancy Beckemeyer, Dottie Myers, and Dr. Paul Thomas. The program fee, $35 for SBGG Members and $40 for the public, includes lunch, a plant sale, and a silent auction. For a detailed event schedule, call (706) 542-1244, or go to georgiagoldmedalplants.org.

Clever Gardening Technique

Grow a Pineapple Plant
Did you know you can grow a pineapple plant from a grocery store fruit? To do so, cut off the crown and remove all the pulpy fruit. Carefully cut thin sections from the base of the crown until you see root buds, which appear as a circle of dots. Pull away the bottom inch of leaves to create a stalk for planting then set the top aside for seven days to dry and heal. Then, pot the plant in a terra cotta container with regular potting soil mixed with a bit of sand. Pineapple plants like soil that is moist, but not wet. Grow in bright light, in temperatures above 60 degrees F, and fertilize four to six times a year.